Fatehpur Sikri Revisited

by Nadeem Rezavi, Syed Ali

• ISBN13: 9780198084037
• ISBN10: 019808403X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-05-05
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Fathpur Sikri was an important political town and Mughal capital which emerged as a prominent socio-cultural centre with the distinctive architectural pattern. This book presents a multi-dimensional history of Fathpur Sikri, a capital city under the Mughals. It discusses architecturaltraditions, town planning, economic centres, location of imperial and bureaucratic establishments, the bazaars, the waterworks, road networks, and residential areas to provide a wider understanding of the Mughal world. It traces the history of the town from the period before Akbar, an aspect hitherto untouched. The author has extensively studied the excavations along with primary and textual sources. He studies paintings, carvings, and architectural style and identifies for the first time many new structures likethe Palace of Shahjahan and garden. With a number of plans, maps and photographs this book will be a definitive guide to the one-time capital of the Mughals.This book will be useful for scholars and students of medieval Indian history, Mughal art and architecture, and the interested general reader.

Author Biography

Syed Ali Nadeem Rezavi is Associate Professor at the Centre for Advanced Study in History at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Sikri before Akbar
2. The Enterprise of Building Construction
3. The Chronology of Construction
4. The Official City
5. Residential Houses
6. Bazars and Markets
7. Gardens
8. Hydraulics and Water Management
9. Sikri after Akbar
10. Wall Paintings at Sikri
11. Identifying the Builders: The Mason's Marks and their Signatures
Appendix I: Akbari Architecture, A Note
Appendix II: 'Conservation and Preservation' at Fatehpur Sikri
Bibliography
Index